Step for wagons



(No Model.)

(ID. WHITE.

. STEP FOR WAGONS. No. 415,661.

Patented. Nov. 19, 1889.

U ITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

(KILLER D. WI-UTE, OF GLEESON STATION, TENNESSEE.

STEP FOR WAGONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,661, dated November19, 1889.

Application filed April 5, 1889. Serial No. 306,048. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CULLER D. IVHITE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gleeson Station, in the county of \Veakley and State ofTennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steps forVagons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in steps for wagons; and itconsists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing thedevice in position for use. Fig. 2 is a side view showing it folded asit appears when not in use. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of thesame.

The frame of the steps is composed of the side bars A and the cross-barsB, secured between the side bars and forming platforms or steps, asshown. The side bars are provided with the longitudinal slots 0 D, whichare arranged near the front and rear edges of the side bars and havetheir adjacent ends extending somewhat past each other, as shown. Theslot C is formed at about the center of the side bar, while the slot Dextends to the top of the same. Cross-bars or rounds E extend throughthe slots C D, and the hanging devices are secured to and carried bythese cross-bars or rounds. The hanging devices comprise the suspendingarms F, having the hooks G at their upper ends and adapted to engageover the upper edge of the wagon-body, and thelinks or brace-arms H,pivoted to the lower ends of the suspending arms. The said brace-armshave their free ends pivotally mounted on the ends of the lowercross-bar E, which plays in the slot 0, and the suspending arms areprovided with longitudinal slots I, which receive the ends of the uppercross-bar E, as shown. The said cross-bars E are maintained a ilniformdistance apart during their movements by the links J, having their endssecured thereto. These links J further serve to prevent the lowercross-bar dropping when the device is in use. The suspending arms arefurther provided at their upper ends with the inwardly-projecting ribsK, which move on the edges of the side barsA and present abroadersurface, to which the hooks G may be secured,

hooks.

In practice when the device is in use the hooks G are engaged over theupper edge of the wagon-body, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and the ladderthen drawn downward and outward, so that the passengers can easily passupward over the steps into the wagon.

so as to permit the use of wider and stronger Y on thelower ends of theslots I in the suspend ing arms and will be thereby prevented fromfalling, so that the device will be firmly supported. When the device isnot in use, the brace-arms are swung downward and outward, therebydrawing the suspending arms inward toward the side bars A, after whichthe steps are pushed upward, causing the cross-bars E to slip throughthe slots 0 D, so that the steps will be folded up against the side ofthe wagon-body out of the way. The steps are prevented from falling whenin this position by the springs L, secured to the rear side of thesidebars A and engaging the upper ends of the suspending arms, asclearly shown.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided avery simple and efficient device by which passengers can easily andrapidly pass into the wagon, and which can be folded into a compactspace when not in use. The device is always within convenient reach andcan be quickly extended into an operative position when desired for useor folded up out of the way when not in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-- 1. The combination, with the step-frame havingthe longitudinally-slotted side bars, of the cross-bars or roundsplaying in the slots of said side bars and the hanging devices carriedby the crossbars, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the step-frame having the slotted side bars,ofthe cross-bars or rounds moving in the slots of said side bars, thesuspending arms engaging the upper one of said eross-bars or rounds andprovided with hooks adapted to engage the upper edge of the side of thewagon-body, and the brace-arms pivotally secured to the lower cross-barand to the suspending arms, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the side bars A, of the step-frame, thecross-bars E, playing in slots in the said side bars, the linksconnecting the said cross-bars, the suspending arms engaging the uppercross-bar E, and the brace-arms secured to the suspending arms and thelower cross-bar, as set forth.

4. The combination, With the side bars A, of the step-frame having theslots 0 D, the cross-bars E, moving in said slots, the links J,connecting said cross-bars, the suspending arms provided with the hooksG and having the slots I, engaging the ends of the upper cross-bar E,and the brace-arms II, secured to the lower-cross-bar E and thesuspending arms, as set forth.

the rear sides of the side bars and engaging the ends of the suspendingarms, as'specifiedl 6. In a step-ladder attachment, the suspending armsF, having the hooks G, combined with the step-frame pivotally attachedby links to the arms F, whereby the stepframe may be collapsed andarranged between the arms when not in use, as set forth.

7. In a step-ladder attachment, the suspending arms F, having hooks G,and slots 1, combined with the step-frame pivotally attached by linksand bolts or cross-bars to the arms F, the bolts or cross-bars slidingin the slots I, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoin g as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

CULLER D. WHITE.

\Vituesses:

J. D. REDDIC THos. L. NEAL.

